Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 2
The Standards to
Expect in Your New
Home
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 3
The standards you can expect from us
This is a guide to the standard we aim to achieve when we
repair, prepare and clean your new home, usually before you
move in. Please take the guide with you when you go to look
at the house or flat we are offering you.
When a property becomes vacant we always inspect it and
arrange for cleaning and any necessary repairs. We also check
that the gas and electric supply is safe before offering it to a
new tenant.
In this area we have a shortage of housing, so we would like
you to move in to the property as quickly as possible. This
may mean that we will do some non-urgent repairs after you
have moved in. This leaflet shows which repairs we will do,
and when.
When you go to view the property, if you find that work is
still needed, speak to your Community Housing Manager as
we may already have arranged for it to be done. If you agree
any extra work with your Community Housing Manager,
write it down on the back page of the leaflet. It should be
signed by you and a member of Raven’s staff to show the
work has been agreed.
If any of your rooms need redecorating, we will give you
vouchers so you can choose your own materials. We will
generally expect you to decorate but in exceptional
circumstances we may be able to help. If you cannot do the
decorating yourself, you should discuss it with your
Community Housing Manager.
We will visit you within about 3 weeks after you move in, to
make sure you have settled in and to check that all the
repairs are on target. We are interested in your views on the
moving-in process and will ask you to complete a survey form
during this visit.
After your tenancy starts we may also carry out work that is
part of our property investment programme. This will
upgrade your home further.
2
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 4
Work we will do in your home
Before
After
tenancy tenancy
starts
starts
Kitchen
Units
We will provide base and wall units that
are all in working order and, if necessary
replace any that are damaged. These may
not match.
Sink unit
We will provide a working sink top and
base unit, plug and chain.
Cooker point
We will provide a space for a cooker and
will install an electrical outlet and a gas
outlet. We will also fit a gas safety chain if
a gas supply is available.
If any work tops are chipped or their
surfaces are cut, we will replace them.
The new work tops may not match.
All work tops and the cooker hob will
have a tiled splash-back 450mm high and
we will replace any existing tiles that are
cracked.
We will provide space for a washing
machine if we can do so without major
alterations. We will then install an
electrical supply and drainage for a
washing machine.
Floor
The flooring will be water-resistant.
Fridge
We will provide space for a fridge if we
can do this without major alterations. We
will then install an electrical supply for a
fridge.
We will try to provide at least one
double socket above every work top. A
minimum of one double socket will be
provided.
We will clean all the units, the sink and
the ceilings and walls. We will clean the
inside of all the windows, and the outside
of ground-floor windows.
Work top
Wall tiles
Washing
machine
Power
sockets
Cleaning
Ventilation
We will make sure you have an opening
window or an extractor fan in every room.
3
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 5
Work we will do in your home
Before
After
tenancy tenancy
starts
starts
Bathrooms and toilets
Wall tiles
Bath and basins will have a 450mm-high
tiled splash-back. We will replace any old
tiles that are cracked.
Floor
The flooring will be water-resistant.
Cleaning
We will clean the bath, basin, toilet, walls
and ceilings. We will clean the inside of
all the windows, and the outside of
ground-floor windows.
We will repair and clean the bath to a
satisfactory standard. If we cannot do
this, we will replace it. The bath will
have a plug, chain and working taps.
We will repair and clean the basin to a
satisfactory standard. If we cannot do
this, we will replace it. The basin will
have a plug, chain and working taps.
We will repair and clean the toilet to a
satisfactory standard. If we cannot do
this, we will replace it. We will fit a new
seat and make sure the toilet flushes
properly and the cistern is not rusty.
Bath
Basin
Toilet
Ventilation
We will make sure you have an
opening window or an extractor fan.
Electrical
Safety
We will install smoke detectors in your
new home. You will have at least one
electrical socket in each room and an
outlet in the kitchen for an electric
cooker. We will replace any unsafe or
broken electrical fittings. We will fit a
circuit breaker (RCD) to the consumer
unit. We will provide safety certificates
for all our appliances.
4
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 6
Work we will do in your home
Before
After
tenancy tenancy
starts
starts
Gas
Safety
We will test and service all gas appliances
to make sure they work properly and are
safe. We will provide safety certificates and
install carbon monoxide detectors where
necessary.
We will inspect all the plumbing,
including stop-cocks and taps. We will
replace any plumbing that is not working
properly.
You will be able to get hot water from a
time-controlled boiler or an immersion
heater.
We will make sure the hot water tank is
insulated with a lagging jacket or
attached cover.
We will make sure all floors are safe, level
and ready for your floor coverings.
Carpet grippers glued to the floor will
remain in place.
We will make sure that all wooden floors
are fixed and level. We will repair or
replace any split timbers and repair any
gaps.
We will make sure that all hard floors are
repaired or re-covered with Latex so that
you can lay your carpets.
You will have some form of heating in
your main living room. We will remove
any fireplaces that are no longer needed
and do any redecoration that is necessary
as a result of this.
Water
Safety
Hot water
Cylinder
Floors
Condition
Wooden
floors
Solid floor
Heating
Condition
5
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 7
Work we will do in your home
Before
After
tenancy tenancy
starts
starts
Walls, ceiling, windows
Condition
We will clean all walls and ceilings. We
will clean the inside of all the windows
and the outside of ground-floor windows.
We will remove loose plaster and repair
minor cracks. We will remove any loose
or broken ceiling tiles and do any
redecoration that becomes necessary as a
result of this.
Staircase
Condition
We will inspect all the staircases, banisters
and rails. We will repair and replace them
as necessary to make them safe.
Doors
Internal
External
We will make sure that all the internal
doors in your home are working properly.
If they are damaged, we will repair or
replace them, including any cracked or
missing glass.
We will provide new locks with keys to all
external doors. We will inspect all
external doors and make sure they are
working properly. If they are damaged,
we will repair them, including any
cracked or missing glass.
Windows
Safety and
Glazing
We will inspect all windows and replace
any broken panes of glass. We will make
sure that any windows that need keys
have them. We will fit window restrictors
to first floor windows and above.
6
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 8
Work we will do in your home
Before
After
tenancy tenancy
starts
starts
Other matters
Insulation
We will insulate loft spaces, water tanks
and pipes.
Clearing
If you want us to clear a shed, please
contact the Voids Supervisor by phone
or email.
We will repair loose plaster but you may
need to fill minor cracks when decorating.
Walls
CUSTOMER CHARTER
Raven Housing Trust has
published a Customer
Charter about the standards
of service you can expect to
receive. The full Customer
Charter leaflet is available
from all our offices, by
calling us and on our
website. The Charter states
that if you move into a new
Raven home:
We will:
prepare our properties to an
agreed standard
I give you decorating
vouchers if your new
property needs decorating
I visit you within 6 weeks of
starting your tenancy to
check that you have settled
into your new home.
I
To be completed by Raven staff:
The stopcock to turn off your water is ..............................................
.........................................................................................................
Your fuse box/consumer unit is.........................................................
.........................................................................................................
The Council Tax band for your property is ........................................
7
Standards to expect 158
26/2/07
11:09 am
Page 1
Any extra work
When you view the property, please make a note of any extra work
the Community Housing Manager agrees to do.
Room
Details of work
The date any work
will be completed
Address of property
Your signature
Raven staff member’s signature
Date
/
/
An audio version of this leaflet is available on request and we can
provide it in large print and in other languages. Please contact us
with your requirements.
Raven Housing Trust
Raven House, 29 Linkfield Lane, Redhill RH1 1SS
Telephone 01737 272 400
www.ravenht.org.uk